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4 Sheets--Sheet 1. A. H. FROST & F. L. BRYANT.

MACHINE FOR ATTAOHING FABRICS TO BED BOTTOM FRAMES.

(No Model.)

' Patented June 9, 1885;

Ill-Lithographer, Wnnmgiun, n. c.

(No Model;) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. H. FROST & F, L. BRYANT.

MACHINE FOR ATTAOHING FABRICS T0 BED BOTTOM FRAMES. N0. 319,476.

Patented June 9, 1885.v

Wtnwsaa' (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. H. FROST &'P. L. IB'RYZAIH'.

MACHINE POE ATTAOHING FABRICS T0 BED BOTTOM FRAMES.

Patented June 9, 1885.

fifdt (No Model.) T. V 4-Sheets- Sheet 4. A. H. FROST F, L. BRYANT.

MACHINE FOR ATTAOHING FABRICS TO BED BOTTOM FRAMES.

No; 319,476. Patented June 9, 1885.

N PETERS. PhMmUlhugnphm Wanhingion. DJ;

UNITED STATES PATENT] OFFICE.

ABEL H. FROST AND FRED L. BRYANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TOAMES & FROST, OF SAME PLACE.

MA CHINE FOR ATTACHINGFABRICS TO BED-BOTTOM FRAMES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,476, dated June 9,1 885.

Application filed April 6, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ABEL H. FROST and FRED L. BRYANT, of Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Attaching Fabrics to Bed-Bottom viewat the head of the machine.

Frames; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of that class of bed-bottomsknown as woven-wire mattresses, in which a coiled wire fabric is securedto the end bars of a suitable frame, by which frame the desired supportand tension are given to the fabric.

The invention relates to means for connecting the fabric to the endbars; and it has for its object to provide a machine to facilitate andimprove this part of the manufacture,heretofore performed essentially byhand.

The form of union of the fabric with the end bars of the framecontemplated by our invention, and herein illustrated as being made bythe machine, is one in which the fabric is forced into a longitudinalgroove in the end bar and therein held by a tongue inserted and securedin said groove over the fabric.

The machine contains devices for forcibly inserting the fabric andtongue into the grooved end bar for facilitating the nailing of thestrip while held in this position by the pressing devices, means bywhich the bedbottom may be turned end for end in the machine forfastening the opposite extremities of the fabric to the end bars, andsundry other mechanisms designed to favor the accomplishment of the workof attaching the fabric speedily and skillfully.

The features claimed to contain invention will be hereinafter more fullyset forth, and designated in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine wantingthe gear mechanism by which it is driven. Fig. 2 is anend Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section in the line m x of Fig. 4, looking in thedirection of the arrow a. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section in theline a: w of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of which the fabric andend beam are supported preparatory to the further operation of themachine. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the end of the bed shown inFig. 5. Fig. 7 is a removable support for the tongued strip to beapplied to the grooved end bar. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of thesupport shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 8 shows the end beam after the fabric hasbeen attached. Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical detail section of thebeam and plates to which the toggle-arms are connected through the axisof their connection. Fig. 10 is a detail plan showing the crank foroperating the toggle-arms. Figs. 11 and 12 are views of the casterswhich uphold the table.

A A are frame-uprights. A A are horizontal side beams, and A A are crossframestraight and on a level with the corresponding edges of the sidebeams, A. Said beam A is the stationary one of two jaws between whichthe parts to be joined are compressed. The opposing or movable jaw maybe mounted, guided, and operated by any suitable or convenient devices;As here shown, said movable jaw consists of a beam, 13, supporteddirectlyover the beamA and in the same plane therewith, by means of rodsB connected with the ends of the latter and with the ends of a similaror suitable beam, B, also located in the same plane with the bed-beam Aand beneath the latter, as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 4.. I

The vertically-movable parts described are held in their proper plane ofmovement by guides consisting, in the present instance, of bars a,affixed to the front face of the beam A and parallel with the verticalfaces of the adjacent frame uprights A, aided by the brackets b,attached to the upper part of the frame and apertured to give passage tothe arms, O, pivoted to each other at c and to the adjacent beams A andB ate, and operated by I cure the necessary'power in a hand-machine,

said shaft may be driven by a train of gearwheels affixed tosimilarly-mounted and-parallel shafts, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3, and4, wherein the last shaft of the series is shown asbeing provided with ahand-wheel, D.

O C are connecting-rods which join the hinged points of the toggle-armswith the crank-pin 0 0f said shaftD. By these 'or equivalent devices theparallel beams B and Bmaybe depressed or raised atpleasure, and anydesired compressive force may be imparted to the presser-beam B, workingin opposition to the stationary beam A. 0

the beams A and B anglecastings C 0 Figs. 2 and 9, are applied toopposite faces of the said beams, being formed with flanges 0' on theirouter faces, against which the ends of the toggle-arms may hear, so asto relieve the strain that would otherwise fall upon the pivot-bolts c".It will be observed that the plates (J extend some distance inwardlyfrom the margins of the beams to which they are applied, from which itwill be apparent that in a machine of convenient height,-'wherein thebeams A and B are of considerable depth, longer toggle-arms may be usedthan would be practicable were the latter pivoted at or 5 upon theadjacent faces of said beams.

In the operation of the machine the end bar of the bed-frame (marked Gin the several figures of the drawings)- is supported by the stationarybeam Ai -with the groove thereof ing the tongued strip to the'lower faceof the presser-beam' B, whereby the tongue upon saidfstrip willaccurately enter the groove in the end bar when the presser is broughtdown.

' Fis the removable table referred to forthe support of the fabric. Saidtable is'of con-- means of a crank, c, on the shaft D. To se-.

In the application of the toggle-arms C O to v in line with thepresser-beam B, and with the venient length. to allow the fabric to liesmo'othly'exten'ded thereon without tension,

and rests otherwise free of the frame upon four or other suitable numberof upturned cast ers, E, attach ed to cross-pieces E of the frame.Atace'ntral point of the table, and on its under side, it is providedwith a cylindric vertically-depending pin, F, which extends into a slotformed by two parallel bars, e, secured longitudinally of the machine tothe cross-bars- E, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The table is thus adaptedto rotate horizontally on the pin F as its axis,- and also to be movedback and forth longitudinally of the machine, or to and from thepresser-beams B and A, and to facilitate these several movements pins orhan'- dles f f are provided in the sides of thet'able. At

ear-h en d of the table a p roj ecti n g metal plate,'F",

is seen red thereto flush with thebo'ttom of said table and of properwidth to receive and support the" end bar, G, to which the fabric H isto, be secured. The adjacent end of the table is made of thickness orheight about equal to the thickness of the end bar. In the presentinstance this is done by the addition of a beveled cross-strip, f.Across the end Of the table is also secured a metalstrip, F providedwith'a series of holes, fi intend'ed to receive pins f by which thefabric may be held laterally exten'dedto equal or proximate in width thelength of the end bar. If the endbar, G, is provided with the metalplates 9 on its lower surface (by which it is to beattached to the sidebars of the bed-frame) be fore the-fabric is secured thereto, aremovable board, G, having recesses g to receive the plates g ,isemployed, to be placed on the plate F and to-immediately support the endbar,G, in order to hold the latter straight while subject to pressurefrom the beam B.

' In the use of the machine for bed-frames of different widths, a seriesof recesses, 9 will be made in the board G, as shown, and several suchboards of unequal thickness may be advantageously provided for differentthicknesses of end bars. The fabricbeing placed on the table F, and theend bar, G, with its groove uppermost upon the plate F, the fab ricisadjusted with its end overlying thegroove ICO IIO-

9 of the end bar, and is laterally stretched to v the proper width andthen securedin this position by the pins f thrust through the fabricnear the margin thereof into the holes f The parts being thus arranged,the table is so 'moved as to bring the plate F over the crossbeam Aandin place for the end bar to receive the strip S. A stop, F, and stopsa attached to the vertical face of the beam A serve to arrest the tableand to hold the end bar in place.

purpose. w

For the purpose of temporarily attaching the tongue bea'rihgwooden-strip -'Sto'the lower face of the, 'presser-beam B with suchaccuracy as to insure the entrance of the tongue s'thereoninto thegroovegof'the end bar,*a

Any other suitable form of stops may obviously be employed for the sameremovable? plate, J, is provided on the said lower face of thepresser-beam B, being longitudinally grooved to conform with the shapeof the upper surface of the strip. Through or from this plate shortsharp pins j, Fig. 4, project downwardly, so that when the presserbeamis-brought down upon a strip the pins j enter the latter and lift andsupport the same until forcibly removed. For the proper use of thisdevice a removable table, S, is provided, Figs. 7 and 7, having legs oruprights 8*, which may rest on the beam A and projections s, by whichits position on said beam will be readily gaged. Preparatory to placinga strip this table S is set upon the bed A, and a strip is laid thereonwith its tongue 8 in the groove s,.made to correspond with that of theend bars. The presser-beam is then brought down upon the strip, and uponbeing raised lifts the strip by the pins j, as above described. Whenthereafter the end bar and fabric are brought into position over thebedbeam A the strip S is thus perfectly adjusted to unite therewith bysimply depressing the beam 13.

The removable plate J may be attached to the beam B by any suitablemeans; but, as here shown, it is provided with transverse dovetailedgrooves j, Fig. 2, which fitcorresponding transverse tongues, j on thebeam. A separate'plate, J, having these tongues attached, and beingitself screwed or bolted to the beam, may be advantageously employed. Inorder to prevent the fabric from being drawn out of place at one or morepoints of its width when forced into the groove of the end bar, anautomaticspring presser-bar, I, is provided, being arranged in positionto bear upon the fabric opposite the plate F and being contrived tostrike the fabric and engage the same, so as to hold it in place, beforethe tongue of the strip S has entered the groove of the end bar. Thispresser-bar I is mounted on vertical rods i, which, as here indicated,are secured to the lugs i on the castings B and slide freely through thepresserbar I, the desired downward pressure upon the fabric being givenby means of the expanding springs l, surrounding said rods i.

For the purpose of fastening the strip S permanently in place afterbeing firmly pressed down upon the end bar and fabric, a series ofvertical tubes, b, Figs. 2 and 4, are provided in the presser-beam B,directly over the strip, intended to admit nails L Fig. 4*, which may bedropped therein, and driven by means of a rod and hammer. Said tubes mayextend through the plates J and J, or they may simply coincide withapertures in said plates.

Instead of using a separate rod and hammer, a second presser-barprovided with a series of rods arranged to enter the tubes may obviouslybe con trived to force the nails home simultaneously.

The groove gof the end bar is preferably of the peculiar shape indicatedin Figs. 4

and 8 of the drawings-ethat is to say, having the lateral extension g onthat side remote from the body of the fabric. The strip S is constructedto overlie the end bar and fabric on both sides of the groove 9, and toalso extend beyond the groove-extension g just mentioned. The tongue 8does not fill the said extension but only the main grooveg,wherefore aspace is left at 9 after the strip S 1s forced home. In this space theends of the fabric coils are intended to lie unflattened or only partlyflattened, so that when tension is applied to the fabric in attachingthe end bars tothe side bars of the bed-bottom and in the subsequent useof the bed-bottom said wires are less liable to be drawn out frombeneath the tongued fastening-strip S.

In the use of the machine described such force is usually and desirablyemployed as will not only flatten the fabric coils between the opposedsurfaces of the strip and end bar, but will compress the wires into thesaid surfaces and thus make a bug-proof joint. If preferred, a body ofputty may be inserted in the groove-extension g prior to applying thefabric and strip; but if the latter is properly forced down into contactwith the end bar it will usually be sufficient to merely stop the endsof this space with putty after the parts are joined.

' k In the mechanism shown for operating the presser-beam B the twopairsof toggle-arms O O throw in the same direction, which is calculated togive an end-thrust to the beam B. To counteract this effect a rod, 0 ispivoted to said beam,near one end thereof, and to the bar a at the otherend of said beam. By using a double crank in place of the single crank 0on the shaft D, one for each or each pair of the connecting-rods O, thetoggle-arms would be thrown in opposite directionsand the endthrust thusobviated, so that the rode could be omitted. The particular devices foroperating the presserbeam are not, however, material to the generalinvention.

If in place of the straight rods B curved or offset connections ofproper strength are employed to join the beams B and B, room may beafforded for swinging the table F so as to carry the end bar into placebetween the beams by a rotary movement only of said table, and. in thatcase its longitudinal movement, obtained by means of the slot betweenparallel bars e, may be dispensed with, some one of many familiar formsof stops being provided to arrest the table in exact position other thanthose shown; so, also, in place of the pins j, for pickingup the stripSand holding it in a proper position to meet the grooved end bar, otherand obvious means may be employed to insure the proper relation betweenthe end bar and strip at the moment pressure is applied to them.

For convenience, the temporary strip-sup port S" is usually disposed ofwhen not in use by placing it upon brackets projecting from the face ofthe beam A a few inches below its upper edge, from which it is lifted toplace on said beam when required with but little bend the fabric intothe groove and to then insert the tongue, subsequently nailing dr'otherwise fastening the tongue in-pla'ce.

method has the objection that when tension is finally applied'to thefabric and in the use of the bed the wires of the fabric are drawngradually into the wood of the tongue, and thus lessen the tension onthe bed-bottom. the r'neth'Od herein set forth, wherein the fablie isplaced over the groove and is forcibly carried into it by pressure uponthe tongue, the great'strain upon the fabric wires beneath the tongueserves to embed them inthe latter and into the adjacent walls of thegroove, so that subsequent tension of the fabric 'pro- 2 5 'ducesnofurther indentation of the wood, and

slackening of the t'ension from such indentation is avoided. This methodherein set forth forms the subject of a separate application for patent,Serial No. 134,277, filed by us in the 3, United States Patent OfficeJune 9,1884.

The bed-bottom having features of construction herein 'sh'own will formthe subject of a separate application for patent.

We'elaim as our invention- 1. In a machine for fastening fabric to theend bars of bed-bottoms, the combination, with a rest for the end bar,and a table for the support of the extended fabric, of a*horizontallymovable presser-bcam, and mechanism for operating the same,substantially as described. V 2. The combination, with opposingpresser-beams A B, of a movable table for the support of the fabric andend bar in proper relation to each other, substantially as described. 1

The combination, with opposing presser -'beains, of a rotating andlongitudinallyin'ova-ble table for the support and movement b of thefabric and end bar, substantially as described.

' .4; The combination, with opposing presser beams, of a table for thesupport of the fabric practically flush with the end bar, and means forholding the fabric properly extended, substantially as described.

'5. The combination, with a support for the end bar, of an adjacentsupport for the fabric, having holes'f, and being about flush withsubstantially as described, and for the purposes setforth. 6. Thecombinatio'mwith the opposing presse-r-beains and an adjacent supportfor the fab- Tic, of an auxiliary spring-presser, I, for holding thefabric, substantially as described. '7. The combination, with theopposing-press- This the upper surface of the end bar, and pins fer-beams, of a rotating tabie, F, provided with plates F for the endbars at its oppositeends, substantially as described. j

8. In combination with the opposing pre'sser-be'ams, the table F, acentral pin, F, apart or .parts forming a slot for said pin, andsuitable supports for the table, substantially as described. Y

9. In combination with the opposing presser-beanis, rotarytable F,provided with a center pin, F,-caster-wheels E, for the sup port of thetable, substantially as described.

10. In combination with the rotary and longitudinally -movable table andthe presserbeams, a stop or stops for arresting the table in position tobring the cross-bar thereon into place between the presser-beams,substantially as described.

'11. Incombination with the opposing presser-beams, and means for fixingthe position of the end bar, the beam B, together with means forattaching the strip S thereto, and means for gaging the position of thestrip when being so attached, substantially asdcscribed. 1 2. Incombination with the opposing presser-beam, the beam B, having its faceshaped to conform with the outer surface of' the cleat S, substantiallyas described. 7

13. In combination with the beam B, the points j in its lower surface,constr'u'ctedto enter the 'cleat and to sustain the same, substantiallyas described. I

14.. In combination with the movable presser-beam B, the removable plateJ, and points j, substantially as described. I .4 15. In combinationwith the opposing presser-beams,.the transversely-grooved board G,fitted to receive the irons attached to the 'crossbar of the bed-frame,substantially as described.

16. In combination with the beam B, provided with means for seizing the'cleat Sythe grooved gage-board S", constructed to support the eleat inposition corresponding with a that which it is desired to have whenborne against the end bar, substantially as described.

17 In combination with the stationary beam A and connected movable beamsB and B, arranged as shown. the toggle-arms O O, pivoted to the beams Band A the shaft D, having crank 0 and the connecting-bars O G, togetherwith nieans for rotating the shaft D, substantially as described. 18. Incombination with the beams A and B and toggle-arms O O, the angle-irons0, provided with flanges a", and the pivot-bolts 0 substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our joint invention we aihxour signatures in presence of two witnesses.

' ABEL H. F RO' ST FRED L. BRYANT IIO Witnesses: i

M; E. DAYTON, JEssE 00X,J r.

